Garage lighting need advise

Legacykid

Legacykid

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So im looking at home depot, not sure if i can post links up but part numbers are as follows.

4 bulb t8 - Model # 1284GRD

bulbs t8 daylight - Model # 422949

but im seeing that the lumen is low compared to another site for lights.

warehouse-lighting(dot)com is the site - Item #: HB-4-T8

So homedepot setup is 2,720 lumen vs. 12,000 lumen from the other site. Im not to familiar with lighting, I just done some research on google and AG for garage lighting.

I have a garage and a half. cealing about 8-10 foot high and I am planning on four of them. 1 over grill/hood, 2 on the sides, and 1 over bumper/trunk
 
Going with powerful lights is always good, but what really makes the difference is that the reflector behind the light is white instead of silver. Try to get a white backing reflector and I promise you will thank me! =)
 
andrewbmw said:
Going with powerful lights is always good, but what really makes the difference is that the reflector behind the light is white instead of silver. Try to get a white backing reflector and I promise you will thank me! =)
Click to expand...

In addition to the white backing LED lights which should offer a white light show off more defects the Halogen lights. Another added benefit to the LED is they do not generate heat like the Halogens do so you won't have to worry about the lights heating up the panels or your back for that matter.
 
Get the natural sun light bulbs, they are brighter also
 
I literallly just did this in my home garage. I got 4 of the $40 3 bulb light fixtures from the depot. They have wide reflectors on the side, and are chrome backed (!!). It uses the traditional 36" 32w t8 bulbs...3 for each fixture. I got Philips bulbs, 5000k in color to produce that daylight color of light. 2800 lumens a piece, so about 8400 lumens per light fixture, for a total of around 33000 lumens in my 2 car garage. It glows like daylight, I love it!

I was going to do all LED ones, but the lumens simply aren't there yet. I did get some 800 lumen CREE LED regular bulbs for other stuff, so the technology is coming around, just not quite yet.
 
Evan.J said:
In addition to the white backing LED lights which should offer a white light show off more defects the Halogen lights. Another added benefit to the LED is they do not generate heat like the Halogens do so you won't have to worry about the lights heating up the panels or your back for that matter.
Click to expand...

I just saw a video where Larry over at ammonyc had another detailer discuss this. I wonder if you can paint or even plastidip the backing plate.
 
Here's a thread from Autopia Forums that discusses lighting and provides some examples of both general lighting and LED task lighting set ups that are reasonably priced-- Finally a comprehensive review of the best bulbs out there... - Autopia Forums - Auto Detailing & Car Care Discussion Forum

I converted all my overhead forescent bulbs to 5000K and use single diode 5000k LED floods for task lighting and have seen a world of difference. The single diode LEDs just blast swirls and scratches even on light colored cars.
 
This is the correct way to do it.
I was doing Energy/Lighting upgrades for 2 years and this setup worked the best for lighting output.

You can get LED's that put out more light but they cost $600 to $800 each for a 24x24.
Look at gas station canopy's some of them have LED's, very bright.


GreatAvalon said:
I literallly just did this in my home garage. I got 4 of the $40 3 bulb light fixtures from the depot. They have wide reflectors on the side, and are chrome backed (!!). It uses the traditional 36" 32w t8 bulbs...3 for each fixture. I got Philips bulbs, 5000k in color to produce that daylight color of light. 2800 lumens a piece, so about 8400 lumens per light fixture, for a total of around 33000 lumens in my 2 car garage. It glows like daylight, I love it!

I was going to do all LED ones, but the lumens simply aren't there yet. I did get some 800 lumen CREE LED regular bulbs for other stuff, so the technology is coming around, just not quite yet.
Click to expand...
 
Evan.J said:
In addition to the white backing LED lights which should offer a white light show off more defects the Halogen lights. Another added benefit to the LED is they do not generate heat like the Halogens do so you won't have to worry about the lights heating up the panels or your back for that matter.
Click to expand...

What about florescent bulbs they stay cool I thought?

So I guess the home depot bulbs suck
 
Legacykid said:
What about florescent bulbs they stay cool I thought?

So I guess the home depot bulbs suck
Click to expand...

The ballast in florescent fixtures also put out heat.
I have four 8 tube high bay fixtures with 3 ballast in each one and they do put out some heat.
 
GreatAvalon said:
I literallly just did this in my home garage. I got 4 of the $40 3 bulb light fixtures from the depot. They have wide reflectors on the side, and are chrome backed (!!). It uses the traditional 36" 32w t8 bulbs...3 for each fixture. I got Philips bulbs, 5000k in color to produce that daylight color of light. 2800 lumens a piece, so about 8400 lumens per light fixture, for a total of around 33000 lumens in my 2 car garage. It glows like daylight, I love it!

I was going to do all LED ones, but the lumens simply aren't there yet. I did get some 800 lumen CREE LED regular bulbs for other stuff, so the technology is coming around, just not quite yet.
Click to expand...

Do the fixtures you mentioned need to be hard wired or are they plug ins? Trying to resolve this same situation in my garage
 
Question; When you guys are looking at a fluorescent bulb what is most important when it comes to selecting a bulb? High CRI, High amount of Lumens, Color Temperature, etc??

I'm also curious, when speaking about using fluorescent lighting in your garage are your bulbs bright enough to show defects or do they just provide a great amount of "general work" light?
 
ski2 said:
Here's a thread from Autopia Forums that discusses lighting and provides some examples of both general lighting and LED task lighting set ups that are reasonably priced-- Finally a comprehensive review of the best bulbs out there... - Autopia Forums - Auto Detailing & Car Care Discussion Forum

I converted all my overhead forescent bulbs to 5000K and use single diode 5000k LED floods for task lighting and have seen a world of difference. The single diode LEDs just blast swirls and scratches even on light colored cars.
Click to expand...

Read this a while back, running the first setup I mentioned will be 44,000 lumens. I also have a work light, that I would like to change the bulb to led for that reason.
 
So whats everyones thought on painting the reflector white, with a high temp paint?
 
Looking at the display models at HD, what seems to be the brightest is the 8' tandem Lithonia fixture. It uses 4 4' long bulbs so they are easy and cheap to replace. The only drawback is that it doesnt come with reflector(s). Its a T8HO fixture, it looks like the HO models use a ballast with a better power factor for increased lighting output vs the standard T8 stuff. It still uses regular T8 bulbs though

Anyone know if there is a way to add a reflector onto those fixtures? I couldnt find much on Lithonias site (its not very organized)....the fixture at HD is here: Lithonia Lighting Tandem 4-Light White Strip Light-TUNS 2 32 MVOLT 1/4 GEBHL at The Home Depot
 
florescent fixtures dont work to good in the cold keep this in mind if you are where it gets cold.
 
master detailer said:
florescent fixtures dont work to good in the cold keep this in mind if you are where it gets cold.
Click to expand...

The newer ones with electronic ballasts should work OK....maybe not in the EXTREME cold (like -10) but Im not sure *I* work in weather that cold either.
 
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